November 4, 2022  

Breweries From Around the State Raise Money for Hurricane Ian Relief

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Brewers from Fort Myers, Naples, Bonita Springs, Broward and Miami Dade County gather at Unseen Creatures to make “Florida Strong.”

This Saturday, you can raise a glass of “Florida Strong” to raise money for the southwest coast.

Dave Lester wants to raise money for Hurricane Ian relief by doing what he does best: making beer.

On October 7, nine days after Hurricane Ian’s 150 mph winds tore through southwestern Florida, the head brewer of Unseen Creatures hosted 20 industry peers for a collaboration brew day of a beer he calls “Florida Strong.”

Five of those peers were from breweries directly impacted by the storm:

“We make beer every day,” Lester tells Broward Beer. “Maybe we can do something greater than the sum of its parts by raising money collectively.”

The beer will be on sale this Saturday, Nov.5, from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m., at Unseen Creatures in Miami.

All proceeds will go to Community Cooperative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding victims of natural disasters. Lester is releasing the beer’s recipe and graphics to any brewery that wants to participate in the cause.

Florida Strong

Lester picked a hazy IPA style because of its popularity. It also doesn’t take long to produce and the ingredients are common, he says.

Dave Lester, head brewer at Unseen Creatures in Miami.

“It’s the highest-selling style of beer,” Lester says. “We know we’re gonna get a good result – it’s a people pleaser.”

Lester is in the process of having a website made for breweries to easily access the recipe. For now, breweries can access the recipe here.

“If we’re able to help out just one person, then we’ve succeeded,” Lester says.



About Joe Pye

My name is Joe Pye. I believe in local beer and local journalism.


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